Partition wall



Dec. 22, 1970 l L. R. DowNlNG. JR

PARTIT ION WALL Filed July 9, 1968 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS LUC/EN R .DUWN/NG, Jl?.

om Ow Y N;

ri rrffr United States Patent O 3,548,557 PARTITION WALL Lucien R. Downing, Jr., Avon Lake, Ohio, assignor to Donn Products, Incorporated, a corporation of Ohio Filed July 9, 1968, Ser. No. 743,376 Int. Cl. E04b 2/78 U.S. Cl. 52-493 6 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A movable partition wall comprised of panels, which are detachably mounted in parallel, planar, spaced relation on studs. A mold is disposed in the space between adjacent panels and engages the panels to maintain them in interlocked engagement with the studs.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION New dimensional effects for movable partition walls are constantly being sought. Present systems, such as that described in my copending application Ser. N0. 535,937, filed Mar. 21, 1966, and now abandoned, employ panels which are detachably mounted on studs in abutting sideby-side planar relation to provide a generally smooth appearing planar wall surface. Although this wall system is very effective, some dificulty in removing and replacing damaged panels is experienced, mainly because the panels are in abutting relation leaving little or no room for manipulating them, or allowing for any discrepancies in the size of the panels which may occur during the manufacturing process. It was also desira-ble to change the appearance of the wall to obtain new and interesting wall treatments. It was found that the aesthetic appearance of the above partition wall could be changed `to create the impression that the panels are embossed, i.e, project from a single plane, or in recessed relation between adjacent projections.

Briefly stated, the invention is in a movable partition wall having a pair of panels 4detachably mounted in parallel side-by-side planar spaced relation on a stud, as distinguished from being mounted in sideby-side abutting relation, as mentioned above. The panels have exposed surfaces which are generally in the same plane to create the visual impression or effect of a planar wall surface. A mold is provided between adjacent panels for engaging them and maintaining them in interlocked relation on the stud. The mold has a planar surface which can be positioned in varying offset relation to the exposed surfaces of the panels for disrupting the visual effect of the planar wall surface.

The following description of the invention will be better understood by having reference to the annexed drawing, wherein:

FIG. l is a cross section of a typical junction of panels, panel mold and stud taken in a horizontal plane of a partition wall;

FIG. 2 is a cross section of another typical junction utilizing a different embodiment of the mold to change the aesthetic appearance of the partition wall;

FIG. 3 is a cross section of still another embodiment of the mold; and

FIG. 4 is a cross section of still another embodiment of the mold.

ENVIRONMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown a partition wall, generally indicated at 6. The

partition Wall 6 comprises a plurality of spaced-aligned flanges 16 and 18 are disposed in continuous relation along the marginal edges 12 and 14, respectively. A pair of abutments 20 and 22 are disposed in spaced relation on each of the flanges 16 and 18.

A pair of similar, but oppositely disposed fingers 24 and 26, are secured to the stud 8 in parallel relation, and extend outwardly between each pair of abutments 20 and 22 in a direction away from the web 10. The lingers or planar webs 24 and 26 are continuous between opposing ends of the stud 8, and have free marginal edges 28 and 30, which are resiliently, laterally displaceable.

A pair of vshoulders 32 and 34 are carried by the fingers 24 and 26 in spaced relation from the free marginal edges 28 and 30, respectively. The shoulders 32 and 34 each have a panel engaging surface 36, which lies in a plane normal to the plane of the fingers 24 and 26. The shoulders 32 and 34 are coextensive with fingers 24 and 26 and form a restricted space or opening between the fingers. In forming shoulders 32, 34 a pair of lips are formed. The lips extend from the free marginal edges 28 and 30 of the fingers 24 and 26, respectively and converge toward the restricted space or opening formed by the shoulders 32 and 34.

A pair of panels 38 and 40 are detachably mounted in parallel spaced side-by-side planar relation on the studs 8. Each panel is provided with a web 42 having an exposed surface 43 which is substantially planar in nature. The exposed surfaces 43 of the panels lie in a common plane when the panels are properly positioned on the studs, and create the impression or efiect of a planar wall surface. The web 42 has parallel marginal edges 44 and 46.

A pair of similar, but oppositely disposed tongues or planar flanges 48 and 50, are provided along the marginal edges 44 and 46 of adjacent panels, and extend into the restricted opening between the fingers 24 and 26. The tongues 48 and S0 are coextensive with the web 42 and comparatively more rigid than the finger and form wedges extending from the free marginal edges 74 and 72 of the flanges 48 and 50 and in diverging relation from shoulders 32 and 34.

A pair of stops 52 and 54 are carried by, and coextensive with the tongues 48 and 50 (and protruding from the wedges), and interlockingly engage the stud shoulders 34 and 32, when the tongues are inserted between the fingers such that the free marginal edges 28 and 30 of the fingers 24 and 26 engage the webs 42 of the panels 38 and 40. The stops 52 and 54 each have a stud engaging surface 56 which lies in a plane normal to the planes of the tongues and lingers. The panel engaging surface 36 of each finger abuts the stud engaging surface 56 of a corresponding tongue and provides a positive interlock between the stops and shoulders. The panel tongues are disengaged from the stud fingers in a manner similar to that described in my aforesaid copending application.

An insulating board 58 is provided on each panel and rests adjacent the abutments 20 and 22, for engaging the abutments should the panels be pressed against the studs. This keeps the webs 42 of the panels from becoming distorted. Naturally, the spacing between the tongues of each panel is in relation to the spacing between adjacent fingers of adjacent studs. It should be apparent from the above description that the main difference, at this point, between the partition wall `described in this application and my copending application Ser No. 535,937, is the spacing between the lingers of each stud and consequent spacing between the tongues of a pair of panels mounted on the studs.

THE INVENTION A panel mold 60 is removably inserted between the spaced tongues 48 and 50 of adjacent panels 40 and 38, and holds or maintains the panels in spaced interlocked relation on the studs. The mold 60 can be of any suitable design; for example, the plug types (FIGS. 3 and 4), or U-shaped (FIGS. l and 2). In either case, the mold 60 is preferably made of plastic, and is at least coextensive with the length of the panels measured between floor and ceiling.

The mold 60 comprises a web 62 having an exposed surface 63 which generally covers the space between the exposed surfaces 43 of adjacent panels 38 and 40. The mold I60 can be positioned between the adjacent panels 38 and 40 such that the exposed surface 63 thereof, is flush with, or in varying offset relation from the plane of the exposed surfaces 43 of the panels 38 and 40, in order to break-up or disrupt the planar effect of the wall surface. The mold surface 63, preferably, lies in a plane which is parallel to the plane of the panels 38 and 40 and their exposed surfaces 43. The mold surface 63 can be in varying recessed or projecting relation from the plane of the exposed surfaces 43 of the panels 38 and 40, depending on the effect desired. In other words, by positioning the exposed mold surfaces 63 closer to the studs 8 than the exposed surfaces 43 of the panels 38 and 40, the panels will appear embossed, i.e., projecting toward the viewer from a planar will surface. Conversely, when the exposed mold surfaces 63 are positioned farther from the studs '8, the panel will appear recessed between adjacent projections or molds 60.

Means 64 (legs 65 and 66 in the case of the U-shaped mold) extending from the mold surface 63, are provided for engaging the stud 8 and varying the spacing of the mold surface 63 from the stud 8 and varying the spacing of the mold surface 63 from the stud 8. Projections or detents 68 and 70 are provided on the mold 60 for engaging the adjacent panels 38 and 40 to hold or secure the mold 60 in position between the panels. The plug-type mold l60 (FIG. 4) has not projections and is formed with a width W3 which is slightly larger than the spacing W2 between adjacent panels.

In the case of the plug-type mold 60 (FIG. 3), the resilient projections increase the frictional resistance to withdrawing the mold 60 from between the panels. In the case of the U-shaped -rnold 60 (FIGS. 1 and 2), the detents 68 and 70 are designed to interlockingly engage the free marginal edges 72 and 74 of the adjacent tongues 50 and 48, when the panel mold 60 is fully inserted between the tongues such that free marginal edges 76 and 78 of the legs 65 and 66, engage the stud 8. The free marginal ends or edges 76 and 78 of the legs 65 and 66 and consequently the detents 68 and 70, are laterally displaceable towards and away from each other because the mold 60 is made of plastic and the legs are naturally resilient or pliable to a certain degree. The overall distance W1 between the detents is greater than the spacing W2 between the panels or tongues 4'8 and 50 to ensure maintaining the panel mold 60 between the V adjacent panels. The panel mold 60, as indicated, also acts to hold the panel tongues in interlocked relation with the fingers of the stud. Thus, the panel mold 60 has a two-fold purpose; that of breaking or disrupting the continuity between the exposed planar surfaces of adjacent panels, and maintaining the panels in spaced relation and consequently the fingers and tongues in interlocked relation.

As indicated, the length of the means 64, or legs 65 and 66 from the web 62, can be varied to provide a correspondingly desired recess or projection between adjacent panels. The spacing between the stud fingers 24 and 26 and corresponding with of the web 62 can likewise be varied to alter the spacing between adjacent panels. The tips or free marginal edges 76 and 7'8 of the legs 65 and 66, preferably engage the bilaterally extending flanges of the studs to keep the mold 60 from moving transversely to the plane of the panels. The panel mold 60 can be suitably colored to contrast or blend with the coloring of the panels. The panel mold 60` is separable from between the panels to permit disengaging the panels from the studs, whereby the partition wall 6 is dismantled.

Thus, there has been described a new and novel partition wall in which adjacent panels are held in spaced relation by panel molds recessed or projecting from between adjacent panels, to provide a wall surface having a three dimensional effect as distinguished from a flat wall surface.

It should also be appreciated from the above description that individual panels can be easily removed and replaced without disturbing adjacent panels, thus providing a partition wall which can be readily maintained, or repaired should any of the panels be damaged.

I claim:

1. In a partition Wall for-med from studs and panels with an `exterior wall and insulation backer boards, means for mounting a pair of the panels in spaced relation on a stud, the means when the panels are on the stud cornprising:

(a) a pair of abutments disposed in spaced relation on the stud adjacent the insulation boards and engaging the boards when the panels are pressed towards the stud, the abutments being in the same plane;

(b) a pair of fingers carried by the stud and extending outwardly from the abutments towards the panels, the fingers being continuous between opposing ends of the stud and including:

(l) a pair of planar webs angularly disposed to the plane of the abutments, the webs having free marginal edges which engage the panels;

(c) a pair of lips extending from the free marginal edges of the webs and converging in a direction towards the plane of the abutments, the lips being coextensive with the webs and having spaced free marginal edges restricting the space between the webs;

(d) a pair of shoulders extending from the free marginal edges of the lips to the plane of the webs, the shoulders being coextensive with the webs and including oppositely disposed configured surfaces angularly disposed to the webs;

(e) a pair of tongues extending from adjacent marginal edges of the panels towards the stud, the tongues being continuous between opposing ends of the panels and disposed between the fingers, the tongues including:

(1) a pair of planar flanges disposed in adjacent spaced relation between the lips, the flanges engaging the lips and having free marginal edges extending beyond the lips;

(f) a pair of wedges extending from the free marginal edges of the flanges and diverging in a direction towards the shoulders, the wedges being coextensive with the flanges and having free marginal edges spaced from the flanges;

(g) a pair of stops extending from the free marginal edges of the wedges to the plane of the flanges, the stops being coextensive with the flanges and including oppositely disposed surfaces correspondingly configured to matingly engage the configured surfaces of the shoulders, the wedges and lips engaging when the panels are mounted on the stud causing relative lateral displacement thereof, whereby the stops bypass the lips and interlockingly engage the shoulders;

(h) molding means resiliently disposed in the space between adjacent panels and in contact with the flanges of adjacent panels to resiliently retain the panel stops in contact with the stud shoulders;

(i) said molding means comprising an elongated U- shaped member having its bottom portion facing outwardly in the same direction as the panel exterior wall;

(j) the leg portions of said molding means having projections extending outwardly in opposite directions and adapted to extend about a portion of the panel stops to secure said molding means between said marginal edges of said panels.

2. The movable partition wall of claim 1 wherein said molding means is offset from the exterior wall of said panels.

3. The movable partition wall of claim 1 wherein said molding means is composed of plastic.

4. The movable partition wall of claim 1 wherein the bottom portion of said U-shaped member is parallel to the exterior wall of said panels and in closer spaced relation to the stud than said wall of said panels.

5. The movable partition wall of claim 1 including means for positioning the molding means in predetermined spaced relation to the exterior wall of the panels.

6. The movable partition wall of claim 4 wherein said positioning means comprises Contact between the lowermost portion of the legs of the U-shaped member and the stud abutment.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,277,792 3/ 1942 Small 52-497X 2,312,673 3/1943 -Rizzolo 52-493 2,627,949 2/1953 Willson 52-46-1X 2,877,877 3/1959 Davis, Jr. 52-497X 3,026,977 3/ 1962 Pollock et al. 52-493X 3,232,395 2/1966 LaBarge 52-395 3,363,383 l/1968 LaBarge 52-403X 3,381,438 5/1958 Bohnsack 52--588X 3,410,043 11/1968 lRijnders 52-303 FOREIGN PATENTS 445,47-6 4/ 1936 Great Britain 52-481 ALFRED C. PERHAM, IPrimary Examiner IU.S. Cl. X7R. 

